Fire extinguisher



c. H. BARNES FIRE EXTINGUISHER Aug. 19, 1947.

Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 S m 9. M E M N mh m R 3 A B H. o. A H C w 0 a. m a. 2 T N m Ill Ii I l I i I. i w Q 1 S 3 E Q U m 2 O- 25. 2 m9 llo Aug. 19, 1947. c. H. BARNES FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Aug. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 S E .N R A B H S E L R A H C latente cl Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STAT as PATENT OFF lC 2,425,715

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Charles H. Barnes, Washington, D. C.

Application-August 8, 1944, SerialNo. 548,592.

(Granted under the act of March. 3, 1883; as amendedAprilfBO, 1928'; 37 0. G. 757) .19 Claims.

This invention relates to. hand'fire extinguishers and more particularly to chemical fire extinguishers of' the drypowder type using a compressed gas to entrain and discharge the powder in the form of a stream of dust.

It is desirable that fire extinguishers of" the type here considered be capable of discharging powder in any position in which they may be held. Heretofore; there wasno' certainty that the powder entraining means would'loe in a position to pick up'the powder forany position in'Which the extinguisher may be held. When held in a horizontal position the pickup-means'may or may not pain the powder supply and held vertically the gas wiil'by pass'the. entraining means causing the powder to pack-and: lose its fluid-like properties; In either" event, satisfactory operation of the extinguisher'is-a matter of chance and any erratic operation would require a knowledge of the cause'thereofin order that itmay be manually manipulated in a manner to cause it to operate.

Thus the primary problem involved. in pro"- ducing a constant uniform discharge ofpowder is that of'entraining-the powder'in the gasstream used-to discharge the same. Suchdischargewill not'be obtained; nor the available supply of powder be'completely" used; unless some means-are provided tfor keeping thepowder in the extinguisher always accessible to -the entraining means and limiting operation ofthe entraining means to that portion of the extinguisher containing powder;

The object of this invention is'to provide a fire extinguisher operable in any positiontodi-scharge the contents'thereof.

A further object of this invention-is-to provide a fire eXt-in-g-uis'herwith meansfor feeding the extinguishing agent to the-discharge means in any position of the extinguisher:

A further object of this inventionis to provide a fire extinguisher having all openings sealed when not-in use.

A further object ofthisinventionis to provide a fire extinguisher whose air inlet and discharge nozzle are openedor closed .by a single operation.

A further objector the invention-isto provide a fireextinguisher "in which the-means for-entraining the extinguishingagent i isalways maintained in thesameposition.

A further object of this invention i to provide a fire extinguisher in whiehthe extinguishing agent container is held inoperable position by gravity.

A further object of'the invention i to provide 2 means 'for unseating the discharge nozzle of a fire extinguisher during'the turning thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be more fully disclosed in the following speeificationand claims.

According to the invention the fire extinguisher comprises an elongated casing, adapted to be graspedwith one hand, in which isrotatably mounted a closed" cylindrical container for the extinguishingagent. This-container is so weighted that one side thereof is always lowermost. This container also carries the means for creating air pressure therein for expelling the extinguish ing agent. The mean disclosedis a. manually actuated pump, though other devices, as for example a cylinder of compressed as, may be substituted therefor. The compressed gasis tedinto a valve chamber having two gravity operated check valves therein wherebytilting of the...ex.- tinguisher-will cause one orthe other ofthe valves to close. These valves control the flow? of gasinto two tubes couple'd-to'the valvechamber at opposite ends thereof; These tubes run along" the'bottom of thechamber to the ends. thereof farthest removed from the P011113Of attEJChITIEIIDOQE thei'bllbe to the chamber and areprovidedwith openings along the le'ngththereof; Thisaarrangement of tubes and gravity operated valves serves to: direct the gaswinto the tube in the lowerendofthe ex t'in-guisher whenthe latter is directeduptor down thereby: always causing the gas to flow through that: portion of the entraining meansiimmersed inpowdemvhich gravitatesto thelower end: The twotubes discharge. intoha nozzle which has a port for alignment. therewith. This: nozzle is releasably connected to the handldorthelpump .so that whenuthe latter. i .unlatched for operation, it'turns the nozzleportinto alignment with the tubes.. The air inlet for the pump is coveredrby the handle when closed .and' unlatching' the handie opens the air inlet. As the center: of .gras/ity of the container isbelow the .axisthereof, italways assumes the sameposition regardless of the angiular displacement of the casing. As thexextingui-shing agent. gravitate to. the lowermost side; the tubes. are supplied. with L'POWdBI as. long as any thereof remainsin thecontainer- Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional :view ofithezfire extinguisher, with thexpump' handl in. latched position; Fig. 2' is an .enlargedlfragmentary. sectional' 5 view: of one end i of i the extinguisher with the handle unlatched; Eig..3 is an end view thereof; Fig. d is a cross-sectional view-offtheiflange along the line A I -o-f Fig. 3 'showingthe handle latching groove; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View,

- let valve 26 and an air outlet valve 27.

on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nozzle end of the extinguisher showing the nozzle actuating means; Fig. '7 is a cross sectional View along the line i'l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a slightly enlarged plan View of the powder entraining means taken along the line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a detail of the powder entraining means; Fig. 10 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view of the piston; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle end of the extinguisher shOWing the clutch and nozzle when th handle is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the nozzle unseated during the locking of the handle; Fig. 13 is an end view of the clutch plate affixed to the piston rod.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the extinguisher as comprising an elongated cylindrical casing W of some suitable material, such as sheet metal, one end of which is provided with an end wall H integral therewith. The other end of the casing is open and is adapted to be closed by a cover I2 which is affixed thereto by screw threads 13. Within the casing i is an elongated cylindrical container Id of sheet metal, or like material, and of slightly smaller size, which carries the extinguishing agent such as, for example, a fine powder. The container I4 is rotatably mounted in the casing l8 so that ither one thereof freely rotates with respect to the other. The axes of the casing and container coincide and the bearing means, subsequently described, are at either end. The means for generating gas pressure is carried within the container M and comprises an air pump l axially aligned therewith and rigidly attached thereto.

The air pump I5 is of the double action type and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, comprises a cylinder l6 provided with valve chambers I! and I8 at either end thereof. The outer end of the valve chamber I8 is provided with a shoulder which abuts the apertured end of the container I4 and is affixed thereto by ring 20 threaded on the reduced portion of the valve chamber projecting through the end wall. The valve chamber H has attached thereto, by means of arms 67, a nozzl casing 68 clamped centrally of the end wall of the container [4 by means of a shoulder 2| formed thereon and a ring l9 threaded on a reduced portion of the valve casing projecting through'the end wall. The outer end of the valve casing 68 carries a felt washer 69 and a plastic disc which are journaled on a bearing ll fastened to the centerof the apertured end wall ll of the casing Ill.

Chamber i8 is provided with an air inlet port 23, an inlet valve 24 and an outlet valve 25. Chamber I1 is similarly provided with an air in- The air inlet valve 26 is supplied with air by means of pipe 28 connected to the valve chamber I! at one end and to the air intake 23 at the other. The inlet and outlet valves are of conventional type, comprising a valve head 29 afiixed to a valve stem 30 which passes through the apertured insert 3|. The valve is urged to closed position by means of a light coil spring 32. A piston 33 attached to piston rod 34 operates in cylinder I6. The piston is loosely mounted on the piston rod, permitting free rotation thereupon. Fig. 10 shows the means whereby this is accomplished. A fitting 35 carried on the end of the piston rod 34 is provided with a central portion 36 of reduced diameter. A boss 3'3 integral therewith is provided with a sloping face 38. A cap 39 screwed on the other end of the fitting has a sloping face &0 formed thereon. Cotter pins ll and 42 prevent rotation between the several parts. The piston is provided with a central aperture 23 of a size permitting a loose fit on the reduced portion 33 of the fitting 35. The opposite faces of the piston have conical recesses 44 and 45 formed therein, the slope of which is the same as that of faces 38 and 49 of the boss 37 and cap 39 which seat therein. The spacing between the face of the recess 4 and 45 is slightly less than that between the faces 38 and t8 permitting axial pla between the piston and the fitting. Piston rings 46 of some suitabl material, such as felt, are carried in a suitable groove formed in the outer periphery of the piston. Movement of the piston rod 34 in either direction will cause the boss or the cap on the fitting to seat in one of the recesses in the piston sealing the same from leakage of air compressed thereby through the piston at this point through the limit of movement thereof yet permitting free rotation of the piston with respect to the rod for reasons subsequently to appear.

The piston rod 34 passes through a central aperture in the valve chamber !8 which also carries the means for journaling one end of the container for rotation about the piston rod 36 with a minimum of friction. An annular flange A8 on the valve chamber carries two plastic Washers 49 and 59 separated by a felt washer 5| which acts as an air seal and lubricant carrier. These journaling elements are retained in the flange by turning the edge thereof over the outer disc 59.

The piston rod 34 extends through a centrally located opening 52 in the cover I2 and carries a handle 53 at the outer end thereof. In order that the handle 53 may be latched to the cover [2, the latter is provided with an upstanding flange 54 symmetrically spaced with respect to the opening 52. This flange 54 has a recess 55 in the inner wall thereof, Fig. 4, and an under cut groove 56 communicating with the lower end of the recess 55 and extending through 90 of the circumference of the flange, terminating in a depression or seat 5? formed in the outer side of the groove 56. The handle is enlarged at its point of attachment to the piston rod 34 so that it loosely fits within the flange 54 and carries a protruding lug 58 (see Figure 1) adapted to pass through the recess 55 by movement thereof in an axial direction to the groove 56 where it may be manually turned until it seats in the depression 51. This construction permits the handle to be locked in only one position with respect to the cover. The cover l2 has several air inlet openings 59 located around the opening 52 to admit air to the pump. A gasket 68 of some resilient material is affixed to the hands 53 and serves to seal the openings 59 when the handle is locked. A filter 6! is held against the inner side of the cover adjacent the openings 59 by means of a spring 62. The spring 62 is housed in an annular flange 63 and bears against a centrally apertured cap 65 threaded into said flange. The end of this cap abuts the washer 56 and serves to axially space the container M the proper distance from the cover 12. The flange 63 is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced openings 65 to permit passage of air to the pump.

The container M has a funnel shaped fitting it! fixed in one end thereof in which a screw plug E08 is adapted to be screwed. A threaded plug H19 in the cover l2 provides access to the fitting the loose mounting of the piston 33 on the piston rod permits the piston to rotate with respect to the rod thus enabling the container it, when properly counterbalanced to maintain a constant position with respect to the earth regardless of any turning of the casing ll! about its axis. That is to say, with the container properly weighted, rotation of the casing lil about its longitudinal axis will not cause rotation of the container I l whose weighted side is maintained lower-most.

Air compressed by the pump [5 through manual operation of the piston is conducted to a cylindrical valve chamber 12-, located in the container M below the pump I5, by means of pipes 13 and M. From the chamber 72 the air is fed to the slightly flattened powder pickup tubes 75 and it which are located in the bottom of the container i i. The tubes carry means 18 for feeding powder thereto which, as shown in Fig. 9, comprise funnel shaped members attached to an elbow fitting 33 whose free end projects into the tubes so that its outlet end is axially aligned with the tube whereby air passing the elbow will draw powder thereinto. Tube has powder inlets alon only that portion thereof located in one end of the container M or on one side of the chamber 72. Air for this tube is supplied from the other side of the chamber. Tube 76 is provided with powder pickup means 13 in the other end of the container and is connected to that end of the chamber 72 opposite the connection for tube 15. By this arrangement each tube picks up powder from only one end of the container Valve chamber i2 houses two gravity actuated check valves 8.! and 8.2 which control the flow of air from the chamber into tubes 75 and it com nected thereto. Each valve comprises a ball 83 loosely held in a cage guide 84 attached to a valve seat screwed into an opening in theend of the chamber to which the pipe F5, or iii, is con-. nected. The lower side of the cage guide 84, is inclined downwardly away from the valve seat to which it is attached. When th extinguisher is held horizontally the check valves are open and air flows into both tubes, but if tilted, one of the check valves closes preventing flow of air in the tube at the upper end of the extinguisher.

The tubes 15 and i6 merge as shown in Fig, 7 and connect with a port 85 in the nozzle casing 68, A conical nozzle 5356 for discharging the powder is, rotata-b-ly mounted in a conical nozzle seat, in the nozzle casing 658. A. port 87 in thenozzle, connecting with a central aperture 8.8, is adapted to register with the port 8.5 to'permit discharge of powder therefrom. Rotation of the nozzle 96 from the. position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 will serve to cut off the flow of powder. A stop 59 projects into. a grooveilii out in the periphery of the nozzle to limit the rotation thereof to 98. The. Slot 9%). is of a width permitting axial movement of the nozzle with respect to. the stop,

The chamber '52 and the tubes 75 and it ordinarily will be sufficient to counterbalanc the.

container to maintain it in one position, but an additional :weight (not shown) may be. added to, the lower part thereof to. increase the counters balancing effect.

e pening and. lo n of he. nozz e f is und t e ont o t th Pump-h nd ed? so. hat u l t neh p p h n le w ll urn the noz e to a n the po ts. in the zzle and the. n .t asing nd latchi t e an le n clos d]? 011 will: di m ss the h c n 90i he fi ting-3J5 attached to the piston rod 3} is provided with an a a d ted stem 9 Fia. l0, havin key a 2 c e ih r a Moun ed on theaters at for sliding movement inlan axial direction is a en al y e ed cl ch at S liavinekeas integral therewith and projecting to to prevent rotation of the clutch plat 93; w th respect to the stem at whil permitting axial movement thereon. A washer S5 screwed to the end of the stem retains the clutch plate ontthe stem and a spring 95 urges the clutch plate against the said washer 95, Ijhelclutch plate 9.3 is provided with an annular ow of teeth 9'! around the periphery thereof. A second c utch plate 198, for-med similar to the other is Coupled t t e n z le- 3 by me s of. a, s a t 5 wh ch passes through a centrally located aperture H12 in the valve chamber ii. The headof the screw afiixing washer is adapted to abut the clutch plate 98. when the clutchis engaged. A spring we ear n n h no z e casing 58 and a washer lei fastened to the shaft serves to urge thenozzle into contact with its seat. The shaft 9.91s joure naled in the valve chamber IT by means of. two plastic discs Hi3 and lildspaced byi a felt washer Hi5 all of which are retained by an annular anc w t e lt Wa her 05. s rv s as a r seal and prevents leakage of air, compressed-by the pump, around the shaft. This cl tch when en ased u n sh s a d rect. connection b w n the noz l and t dle whe eby man pulation of the latter will operate the nozzle topper; or closed position en ot in use the fire ex in i her ha th handle 53 thereof in locked position as shown in Fig. 1 wherein the lug 53 is seated in the (le pression 51 in the groove 56 The gasket Bill, attached to the handle, seals the. air inlet openings 59. The clutch is in engagement as shown in Fig. 11 and the nozzle is turned so that the ports 85 and 8l ofthe nozzle casing and nozzle, respect: tively, are not aligned. The conta ner is therefore sealed and prevents the admission of air. and

moisture which may have a deleterious effect on the powder. The. container I4 will be counterbalanced to a position such that the powder pickup tubes "I5 and 16 are, at the bottom thereof."

' To unlatch the handle 53, it is first pushed axially a slight distance to disengage lug 58 from the depression 51 and then turned to permit the lug to pass through the recess 55, in thefiange 54. As the clutch plates 93 and 98 are engaged when the handle is latched and for the duration of the turning movement, any movementot the handle causes movement of the nozzle 35 by means of the connection therebetWeen, namely the piston rod 34, clutch, and shaft99; The small initial axial movement of the handle i tr mitted through the abutting members of; the clutch assembly to the nozzle 86 which causes, it to be p h d m ts. e t a a nst-the retaini force exerted y h ne i ho rnin. la 2;. This feature is provided toprevent any sticking of the nozzle in the seat as maybe occasioned bythe nonuse of the. extinguisher. for long periods .of time, or corrosion or the parts. The. turningaofi' the handle until the. lug. reaches recessi55 turns; the nozzle 86: to a position where the port: 86!

thereof aligns with the port 85 of the nozzle casing 68. As the lug passes through the recess 55 and clears the flange 54, the nozzle first reseats and then the clutch disengages to the position shown in Fig. 6. The air inlet openings 59 are uncovered by this unlatching movement. The pump is then operated by imparting a reciprocating motion to the piston. Movement to the left will cause valve 26 to open and let the piston draw air from the inlet port 23 through pipe 28. Air is compressed on the other side of the piston, opening valve 25 forcing air through pipe 13 into the chamber 12 from where it flows into the pickup tube 15 and 16 entraining powder fed therein by the means 18. This mixture of air and powder is discharged through the nozzle 86 to which the tubes are connected. Movement of the piston in the opposite direction causes a similar operation with respect to valve 21 and pipe 14.

If the extinguisher is tilted, the appropriate check valve in the bell cuts ofi the flow of air into the uppermost pickup tube thus forcing all of the air through that tube to which the powder gravitates, a material consideration when the container becomes less than half full.

In latching the handle closed the reverse of the opening procedure is observed, the clutch is first engaged, the nozzle unseated and turned to closed position and then reseated. The spring 96 and clutch plate-93, keyed for axial movement on the stem 9|, prevent damage to the clutch in the event the teeth thereon do not exactly mesh when they first make contact or permit the clutch plates to slip if the nozzle becomes jammed, to avoid damage to the extinguisher.

While I have described the preferred form of my invention I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details shown but wish to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a casing adapted to be held in the hand, a container for an extinguishing agent, means journaling said container in said casing to permit relative rotation therebetween, means fixed to said container for entraining the extinguishing agent and counterbalancing said container to one position and means fixed to said container for rotation therewith for supplying gas under pressure to said entraining means.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a casing, a container adapted to hold an extinguishing agent, means journaling said container in said casing, pressure generating means afiixed to and in said container dor rotation therewith, a pickup means counterbalancing said container to one position and connected at one end to said pressure generating means, and nozzle means carried by said container and connected to the other end of said pickup means.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising a casing, a container adapted to carry an extinguishing agent, means journaling said container in said casing, pickup means afiixed to one side of said container, said pickup means counterbalancing said container to keep said side lowermost, gas pressure means carried by said container for rotation therewith and connected to said pickup means and a discharge means carried by said container connected to said pickup means and discharging through said casing.

4. A fire extinguisher comprising a casing, a container in said casing, means journaling said container in said casing, pressure generating mean in said container, discharge means carried by said container, pickup means counterbalancing said container to one position and connecting said pressure means and discharge means said container, pressure generating means and pickup means rotating as a unit in said casing.

5. A fire extinguisher of the dry powder type comprising a cylindrical powder container, a casing therefor, means journaling said container in said casing for free rotation therein, a source of compressed air afiixed to said container and rotatable therewith, apertured tubes along one side of said container counterbalancing said container to maintain said tubes at the lowermost point therein, means connecting said source of compressed air and said tubes, discharge mean carried by said container and connected to said tubes.

6. A fire extinguisher as claimed in claim 5, said connecting means comprising a valve chamber and gravity operated check valves in said chamber controlling the flow of air to said tubes.

'7. A fire extinguisher of the dry powder type comprising an elongated casing, a cylindrical container for the powder, mean journaling said container for rotation about the axis thereof in said casing, an air pump mounted axially of said container, a piston rod for said pump projecting from said container and casing, a valve chamber in said container connected to said pump, perforated tubes connected to said chamber to receive air therefrom, gravity operated check valves in said chamber controlling the flow of air to said tubes, said tubes discharging through the end of said container.

8. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a container journaled in said casing, discharge means, said means comprising a pump and a cutoff nozzle, said pump having a piston and a piston rod, means for locking said rod to said casing and clutch means carried by said nozzle and said rod engageable during locking of said rod to close said nozzle.

9. In a fire extinguisher of the dry powder type a casing, a container journaled in said casing, powder ejecting means in said casing, said means comprising an air pump and a cutofi nozzle, said air pump having actuating means extending through one end of said casing, an air inlet adjacent said actuating means and means carried by said actuating means for simultaneously controlling said air inlet and said cutoff nozzle.

10. In a fire extinguisher a casing, a container journaled in said casing, apertures in one end of said casing, an air pump in said casing having a piston and piston rod, said rod extending through one end of said casing adjacent said apertures, means locking said rod to said casing, means carried by said rod closing said apertures when said rod is locked, a cutofif nozzle carried by said container, means connecting said rod and said nozzle during locking of said rod to unseat and out oii said nozzle.

11. In a fire extinguisher of the dry powder type, a casing, powder ejecting means in said casing, said means including an air pump and a cutoff nozzle, said air pump having a piston rod projecting from said casing, an air inlet in said casing adjacent said rod, means carried by said rod to close said inlet when said rod is at one extreme position and means coupling said nozzle and said rod in said extreme position whereby the said air inlet and said nozzle may be opened simultaneously by manipulation of the said rod.

12. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a container journaled in said casing, a pump in said container having a piston and a piston rod, said rod projecting from said casing and container, means locking said rod to said casing, discharge means connected to said pump comprising a cutoff nozzle, means coupling said nozzle and rod when said rod is in locked position whereby unlockin rod opens said cutoff nozzle.

13. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a container in said casing, a pump in said casin a piston rod projecting from said casing, a lug on said rod, a flange external of said casing, a recess in said flange to receive said lug through axial movement, an undercut groove in said fiange to permit angular movement of said lug and a depressed seat in said groove to latch said lug, a cutoif nozzle, means coupling said rod and nozzle during axial movement of said lug in said recess to unseat said nozzle and rotating said nozzle during angular movement of said lug in said groove and reseating said nozzle when said lug rests in said depressed seat.

14. In a fire extinguisher of the dry powder type, a casing, a powder container journaled in said casing, a source of compressed gas in said container, means counterbalancing said container to maintain one side thereof lowermost, said means comprising a valve chamber and a pair of pickup tubes connected to the ends of said chamber, each of said tubes extending to the end of the container opposite from the point of connection with the said chamber, apertures in said tubes in the portion thereof remote from the point of connection with the said chamber, gravity operated check valves in said chamber for controlling the flow of air to the tubes, whereby tilting of the extinguisher will cause the check valve controlling the flow of air to the uppermost tube to close.

15. In a fire extinguisher of the dry powder type, a casing, a powder container, means journaling said container in said casing, an air pump in said container, means counterbalancing said container to maintain one side thereof lowermost, said means comprising a valve chamber and a pair of pickup tubes, said tubes connected one to each end of said chamber and each extending into an end of said container opposite the end of the valve chamber where connected, apertures in said tubes in the portion thereof remote from the point of connection with said chamber for admitting powder to said tubes, gravity operated check valves in said chamber controlling the flow of air to said tubes, means connecting said pump to said chamber, and means connected to said tubes for discharging powder from said container.

16. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a powder container in said casing, means journaling said container in said casing, a pump mounted axially in said container, said pump comprising a piston and a piston rod, said rod projecting from said container and said casing, means locking said rod to said casing in one position,- powder entraining means in said container, a cutoff nozzle carried by said container for discharging powder therefrom, said nozzle being ro-tatably mounted in a nozzle casing afiixed to said container, clutch means afiixed to said piston and said nozzle whereby locking of said handle cuts off said nozzle.

17. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a container adapted to receive an extinguishing agent, means journaling said container in said casing, agent entraining means counterbalancing said container to maintain said means lowermost in said container, an air pump axially positioned in said container and connected to said entraining means, said pump having a piston and a piston rod, said rod projecting from said container and easing, a handle affixed to said rod, means locking said handle to said casing in one position, discharge means connected to said entraining means, said discharge means comprising a nozzle casing carried by said container, a nozzle rotatably seated therein, ports in said nozzle and nozzle casing, clutch means carried by said piston and said nozzle engageable during the locking of said handle to disalign said ports.

18. In a fire extinguisher of the dry powder type, ejecting means comprising means for produring gas under pressure, powder entraining means connected to said pressure means, said entraining means comprising a tube and means directing powder into said tube in the direction of gas flow in said tube whereby gas flow in said tube past said last mentioned means will drawpowder into said tube.

19. In a device of the character described, an enclosure, a substantially cylindrical powder container rotatably mounted in said enclosure for rotation about the axis of the container, an air pump cylinder arranged axially within the container and spaced from the wall thereof to provide a chamber for the powder, means for admitting air into each end portion of the cylinder, a reciprocatory piston arranged in the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through an end of the container to the exterior of the enclosure, an outlet for air and entrained powder arranged at the opposite end of the container, conduit means extending through said chamber and placing the end portions of the pump cylinder in communication with said outlet, means arranged along the conduit means for admitting powder from said chamber into the conduit means, and gravity operated valve means interposed in the conduit mean for controlling the flow of air therethrough.

CHARLES H. BARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 431,950 Martin July 8, 1890 954,398 MacGregor Apr. 5, 1910 1,891,759 Flodin Dec. 20, 1932 2,142,550 Anderson Jan. 3, 1939 2,328,345 Keefe Aug. 31, 1943 690,633 Brigham Jan. 7, 1902 

